From the St. Johns River Water Management District
In Summary:
Frequent rainfall has brought some relief to northeast and central Florida, but the St. Johns River Water Management District says the region remains nearly 3 feet below normal rainfall totals. Because much of the summer rain is lost through evaporation and plant use, sustained, above-average rainfall is needed to replenish groundwater supplies and restore river flows. Phase III restrictions remain in effect, limiting landscape irrigation and several commercial, recreational and non-essential water uses.
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While recent rainfall has brought welcome relief to portions of northeast and central Florida, the St. Johns River Water Management District (District) is reminding residents, businesses and large water users that drought recovery will take time.
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Although many areas have received frequent rainfall in recent weeks, the District remains nearly 3 feet below its normal rainfall totals. It will take sustained, above-average rainfall over an extended period to replenish groundwater supplies, restore river flows and recover from months of accumulated rainfall deficits.
Recent rainfall has helped improve conditions in some areas, but summer conditions also influence how much water reaches the aquifer. In July, an average of 5.17 inches of water is lost through evaporation and plant use. With 6.84 inches of rainfall during the month, only a small amount of that rainfall remains available to help recharge groundwater supplies. Above-average rainfall over an extended period is needed for water resources to fully recover.
The District's Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declaration remains in effect throughout the affected areas. The declaration was issued in response to prolonged drought conditions, declining groundwater levels, and reduced surface water flows.
The amount of rainfall shown above is what would be needed over the next three months to end the extreme drought conditions as of Aug. 3, 2026.
Mandatory restrictions remain in place, including:
- Residential and commercial properties are limited to one day per week of landscape irrigation.
- Landscape irrigation is prohibited between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.
- Commercial and industrial users must suspend certain non-essential water uses.
- Golf course fairway irrigation is limited to one day per week.
- Aesthetic water use, such as decorative fountains, is prohibited.
- Street and pressure washing activities face additional restrictions.
- Irrigation restrictions for new plantings, including sod, have been tightened.
Outdoor irrigation continues to represent one of the greatest demands on potable water supplies. Residents are encouraged to verify that irrigation timers are set correctly to ensure that irrigation occurs only on their designated watering day and only during allowable hours. Irrigation systems should also be checked for leaks, and sprinklers should only water landscaped areas, not streets, sidewalks or driveways.
District staff continue to monitor rainfall totals, groundwater levels, river flows and other drought indicators to evaluate recovery and determine when water shortage restrictions can be modified or lifted.
To view the complete water shortage order, including detailed requirements for each water use category and water conservation tips, visit sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions.
Residents may occasionally see irrigation systems operating in public spaces such as parks, medians and common areas during the water shortage. In many cases, these systems use reclaimed water, which is a highly treated recycled water source that helps reduce demand on potable groundwater supplies. While conservation remains important across all water sources, some reclaimed water systems must continue operating to maintain system function or manage storage capacity.
To learn more about reclaimed water and its beneficial uses, visit https://floridadep.gov/water/domestic-wastewater/content/floridas-reuse-program.
Key Points:
- The District remains nearly 3 feet below its normal rainfall totals despite recent rain across portions of northeast and central Florida.
- Phase III Extreme Water Shortage restrictions remain in effect in affected areas because of prolonged drought, declining groundwater levels and reduced surface water flows.
- Residential and commercial landscape irrigation is limited to one day per week and is prohibited between 8 am and 6 pm.
- Additional restrictions affect golf course irrigation, decorative fountains, street and pressure washing, certain commercial and industrial uses, and irrigation for new landscaping and sod.
- District staff will continue monitoring rainfall, groundwater levels, river flows and other indicators before deciding when restrictions can be modified or lifted.
About the St. Johns River Water Management District
St. Johns River Water Management District staff are committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the District and the state of Florida. The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida managing groundwater and surface water supplies in the state. The District encompasses all or part of 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff is also available to serve the public at service centers in Apopka, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay.
For more information about the District, please visit www.sjrwmd.com.
